What if we talked about wine in a different way?
With Let’s Talk, the idea is simple: to offer sincere, curious and sometimes unexpected conversations, far from the overly technical discourse that often surrounds the world of wine. The goal is to discover estates and great wines through the people who bring them to life — their vision, their stories and their passion.
In this episode, Charles Thomas and Sébastien Moses take us to discover Cos d’Estournel, one of the most emblematic estates of the Saint-Estèphe appellation, in the Médoc, at the heart of the Bordeaux vineyard.
From the moment you arrive at the château, the setting is surprising. With its Oriental-inspired pagodas and its famous sculpted elephants, Cos d’Estournel has a unique atmosphere in the Bordeaux landscape. It is a place that seems to transport visitors elsewhere, while remaining deeply rooted in the terroir of the Médoc.
Throughout the conversation, they explore what makes the estate so unique: its history, its distinctive style, its entrepreneurial spirit and the vision that guides its evolution.
To better understand the identity of the estate and what makes Cos d’Estournel so distinctive within the Bordeaux vineyard, the discussion begins with a simple question: how can this great wine be described in just a few words?
Cos d’Estournel: an exotic, avant-garde and irreplaceable wine
Charles Thomas:
“Sébastien, if you had to describe Cos d’Estournel in three words?”
Sébastien Moses:
“Exotic because of its history, avant-garde thanks to the owner’s vision and the new cellar we have, and irreplaceable because of its aromatic profile.”
These three words perfectly summarize the identity of the estate.
First, exotic, because Cos d’Estournel immediately stands out with its spectacular architecture. The pagodas and sculpted elephants recall the travels and the singular story of Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel, founder of the estate in the 19th century. This unique setting gives the château an almost oriental atmosphere, rare in the Bordeaux landscape.
Then avant-garde, because Cos d’Estournel has always been driven by a spirit of innovation. The estate notably built a gravity-flow cellar, designed to handle the grapes with extreme precision. This technical approach preserves the quality of the fruit while allowing the terroir of Saint-Estèphe to fully express itself.
Finally, Cos d’Estournel is irreplaceable because of its style. The wine has a recognizable aromatic signature: great depth, controlled power and remarkable elegance that make this grand cru a true reference in the Médoc.
Where to taste Cos d’Estournel? A suspended moment
Charles Thomas:
“Sébastien, an extraordinary place to taste Cos d’Estournel?”
Sébastien Moses:
“La Côte des Basques in Biarritz, at sunset, in June or September. In my opinion, that’s perfect.”
The tasting of a great wine does not depend solely on the wine itself. It is also shaped by the moment, the landscape and the people with whom the experience is shared.
Imagining a glass of Cos d’Estournel facing the Atlantic Ocean, on the Côte des Basques in Biarritz, as the sun sets over the horizon, evokes an almost perfect moment. The evening light, the sea breeze and the beauty of the landscape elevate the tasting experience.
In moments like this, tasting becomes more than a sensory exercise — it becomes a true experience. The wine accompanies the moment and creates a lasting memory.
Terroir or know-how: the recipe for a great wine
Charles Thomas:
“The recipe for a great wine: terroir or know-how?”
Sébastien Moses:
“I would say 80% terroir and 20% know-how.”
Charles Thomas:
“Terroir probably accounts for 80 to 90%. You either have it or you don’t. Know-how comes with experience.”
The question of terroir versus expertise lies at the heart of great wine production. For generations, both wine lovers and professionals have debated what truly differentiates a good wine from an exceptional one.
At Cos d’Estournel, the answer seems clear: everything begins with the terroir.
Located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation in the Médoc, the vineyard benefits from a particularly favorable natural environment for viticulture. The soils, composed mainly of deep gravel and clay, ensure natural drainage and encourage the vines to root deeply.
The climate of the Médoc also contributes to the personality of Cos d’Estournel wines. The influence of the Gironde estuary moderates climatic variations and creates ideal conditions for a gradual and balanced ripening of the grapes.
Know-how then comes into play to reveal this natural richness. The teams at the estate work with precision at every stage of the winemaking process, from vineyard management to vinification.
The gravity-flow cellar perfectly illustrates this philosophy. It allows grapes and wine to move solely by gravity, limiting mechanical manipulation and preserving the integrity of the fruit.
At Cos d’Estournel, terroir and expertise complement each other: the terroir provides the potential, while the experience of the team allows the full expression of each vintage.
Cos d’Estournel: between Bordeaux and travel
Charles Thomas:
“For you, is Cos d’Estournel a Bordeaux story or an adventure in Zanzibar?”
Sébastien Moses:
“When you come to Cos and see the château in front of you, you can’t help but travel. But the wine is made in Bordeaux.”
Cos d’Estournel has a unique identity within the Bordeaux wine landscape. From the moment visitors arrive at the estate, the architecture of the château immediately captures their attention.
The oriental pagodas and sculpted elephants create the feeling of entering a completely different world. This aesthetic reflects the history of the estate and the visionary spirit of its founder.
Yet behind this exotic dimension, Cos d’Estournel remains deeply rooted in its territory: the Médoc, within the Saint-Estèphe appellation, at the heart of the Bordeaux vineyard.
It is precisely this balance between openness to the world and strong local roots that makes the estate so unique.
Passion rather than rational love
Charles Thomas:
“Your relationship with Cos d’Estournel: rational love or passionate love?”
Sébastien Moses:
“With wine, it’s passionate love.”
Working in such an iconic estate requires a deep commitment.
Passion drives the men and women who dedicate their daily work to crafting great wines. It is reflected in constant attention to detail, from vineyard work to the final tasting.
Producing a great wine also means respecting a history and a terroir. Each vintage becomes an opportunity to continue this tradition while constantly striving to improve quality.
But this passion is always accompanied by a certain awareness: wine is above all a pleasure meant to be shared.
Advice for great wine lovers
Charles Thomas:
“One piece of advice for great wine lovers?”
Sébastien Moses:
“Never wait too long before opening the bottle you most want to drink in your cellar.”
This advice may seem surprising in the world of wine, where aging potential and the perfect moment to open a bottle are often discussed.
Yet it reminds us of an essential idea: wine is meant to be enjoyed and shared. Waiting endlessly for the perfect moment can sometimes mean never opening certain bottles at all.
A great wine is not only defined by its aging potential or rarity. It takes on its full meaning when it is tasted, shared with friends or family, and associated with a particular moment.
Ultimately, the true pleasure of wine often lies in the moment we choose to live.
Cos d’Estournel: elegance and strength
Charles Thomas:
“If Cos were a celebrity?”
Sébastien Moses:
“Roger Federer. For me, Cos is one of the most elegant wines. A lot of strength, but always with discretion.”
Charles Thomas:
“I also think of Sean Connery — for elegance, finesse and strength.”
These comparisons perfectly illustrate the style of Cos d’Estournel.
Like Roger Federer, the wine combines precision, elegance and controlled power. It possesses strength, but always with finesse and balance.
The reference to Sean Connery evokes charisma, elegance and intensity — qualities that can also be found in this great wine of the Médoc.
This harmony between power, elegance and precision is precisely what makes Cos d’Estournel one of the most iconic wines of the Saint-Estèphe appellation, recognized worldwide for its distinctive style.
The entrepreneurial spirit of Cos d’Estournel
Charles Thomas:
“What role does entrepreneurship play in the history of Cos?”
Sébastien Moses:
“Entrepreneurship at Cos is everywhere thanks to the owner, Mr. Reybier, who describes himself as an eternal insatiable.”
Entrepreneurship plays a central role in the history and evolution of Cos d’Estournel.
Today, this dynamic is driven by its owner Michel Reybier, whose philosophy is simple: never settle for what already exists.
Describing himself as an “eternal insatiable” means constantly striving to improve, to innovate and to push boundaries.
This mindset is reflected in numerous innovations at the estate, such as the construction of the gravity-flow cellar, combining tradition and modern technology to better express the potential of the Saint-Estèphe terroir.
Beyond technical aspects, entrepreneurship also shapes the global vision of the estate, strengthening the international presence of Cos d’Estournel and reinforcing its reputation as one of the great wines of Bordeaux.
Cos d’Estournel, a unique signature of the Médoc
Through this episode of Let’s Talk, Cos d’Estournel appears as much more than a great Bordeaux wine.
Located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation in the Médoc, the estate embodies a rare balance between tradition and innovation.
Its spectacular architecture recalls the singular history of the estate and its openness to the world, while its vineyard remains deeply rooted in the terroirs of Bordeaux.
Throughout the conversation between Charles Thomas and Sébastien Moses, one idea emerges clearly: Cos d’Estournel is an estate that constantly reinvents itself.
With Let’s Talk, the goal is precisely to tell these stories differently — by giving voice to the people behind the wines.
Cos d’Estournel is a perfect example: a place where passion, vision and excellence come together to shape one of the great wines of Bordeaux.
View the conversation between Charles Thomas and Sébastien Moses.
